First off. What a cool place! Shucker bar in back and to get oysters, go there. I was privileged, and it was, to have Jim as my shucker. He was great. His responsiveness was really good. Had a great conversation with him as he was shucking the oysters. Was cool to have them shucked and placed on the ice right in front of you! Asked him for recommendations and he said the gumbo over the Growder. Glad I listened. Gumbo had enough of a kick to make it tasty with a reminder you were eating something spicy. I will definitely be back and when I do I hope to get Jim again. read more

This place is fabulous on atmosphere/community and good on food. The staff here never met a stranger, only new old friends. I loved the bbq-tinged cocktail sauce and hearty gumbo. Crab legs were another highlight. The steamed shrimp and oysters were not as amazing; our shucker's technique drained all the juice out of the oysters before serving, and the juice is a big part of the point for me. The cooked oysters did not compare to the grilled oysters at Acme in New Orleans IMHO. Raw oyster eaters in our party, on the other hand, gave the winter gulf oysters two thumbs up. Sitting at this bar is a great way for visitors to Columbia to feel like natives. It's an experience not to be missed. read more

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Best way to describe this restaurant is an Oyster Joint. Entrance opens to a neighborhood bar. Don't be frightened by any of the regulars sitting outside. The real essence of this place is the Shucking area in the back. If you appreciate raw Oysters with friends, this is your place. Service is fantastic, prices reasonable, atmosphere casual and relaxing. Don't forget to tip your shucker. Don't miss the Growder. read more

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This was our first time here, and I must say, the food was incredible. The capital city oyster and the Grower are must-try dishes. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, making it a great place to unwind. We'll definitely be returning. They also shuck the oyster in front of you. read more

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Mary runs a fabulous place! Be sure and get a bottle of her signature cocktail sauce, Mother Shuckers! read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Karen's OBC birthday! - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Oysters are the Happy Hour!!! Hostesses & Servers did their jobs well . I was very pleased with my experience. read more

Limited menu. Some people may be disappointed but enough choices for us to get what we wanted. Oysters were great, the server/shucker was friendly. Scallops? Meh... too much Old Bay for my liking but cooked perfectly. Cool atmosphere, nothing fancy at all but just right for an oyster bar. Give it a shot instead of waiting for the other place around the corner. read more

Always good to come here but never wrote a review .... Was greeted by the bartender immediately ... once I got to my seat the cooks were having a blast playing reggae lol staff was friendly as always ... I went with my norm the capitol city oysters (garlic Alfredo sauce and cheddar cheese no bacon) and also a crab leg cluster to start ... and also added a raw half dozen.... The were fresh and delicious as always ... before leaving I ordered another round of the Capitol city .... Nice spot to stop by if you are DT Cola read more

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Wow. So we were heading to Pearlz oysters, but they were closed for renovations. One of the workers told us to try the Oyster bar, which is right next door (but around the corner). Oh, okay. So we dropped in, and you can tell that this place has been here for a long time. After looking at the small menu, we began asking our waiter Jack a few questions about the place. This place is no frills, it's all about the quality of the seafood, particularly the oysters. You can have them steamed, fried (I think?) or raw. We order half a dozen. They come with lemon, crackers, fresh horseradish, and a homemade cocktail sauce that was soo good- I'd drink it out of a glass! Jack shucked our oysters, and we DEVOURED THEM. DEVOURED!! They were soo good, and the price was great! So yes, whenever we're craving oysters, this is the place that we'll go to first. read more

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Very good no-nonsense oyster bar. They also have scallops, shrimp, clams, and other foods that fit the overall theme of dockside dining. Solid choice for seafood. read more

Here we are trying the local cuisine tonight we come down for a concert in Columbia SC Oyster bar Columbia. It's a rustic feel is full of fantastic happy faces of slurping oysters every which direction Jim was the best mother shucker we've ever seen shuck.. we started off with our New England chowder fantastic, and then we got a dozen of the raw oysters from James River, my old stomping grounds, which is why they were the best we've had!!!to follow that we ended up getting scallop and grits with Bacon and sausage cheesy grit goodness with scallops no less! Good gravy everything was good the scallops and grits dozen raw oysters, yummy chowder, my glass of white Zin, Jason got The long Drink. Charley, honey we gonna take you on a road trip for the best oysters evah ... read more

Wow -- let me just say how impressed I was with the service at 10PM on a Saturday night. The boys working the bar area were attentive, courteous and provided the best customer experience I've experienced in quite a long time. After the football game, my husband and I were STARVING (along with 6 of our friends) so we grabbed some spots near the back of the restaurant. I had the scallops and grits with Old Bay seasoning and my husband got the shrimp and grits with all the fixings. The portions were perfect and the scallops were SO good! If I lived in Columbia, this would definitely be my go-to spot! Thank you for great service and delicious food, yall! read more

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I started with a happy hour glass of wine, $1 off. I added a bowl of growder, their NE clam chowder with grits, bacon and cheese, and followed that with a dozen oysters for $18.95. Dupree shucked them right in front of me and was good at making small talk as he did. His attention to me during the experience was outstanding and the rest of the staff was friendly and conversational. While I see why some reviewers might take exception to what they view as cleanliness, this is a real raw bar, and for that it is exceptionally clean and felt fine to me. Highly recommend! read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Fresh oysters by the dozen and more!! - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We have been coming here for years and they are pretty reliable on service and food. It's Tuesday night and Crab Legs are $25. You can't beat that anywhere in town. Add the red potatoes and you have a great meal. Brandon was our waiter and he was spot on. Thanks!! read more

This place was recommended by a friend and was so worth it! It definitely has a hole in the wall vibe, but is really cool! They shuck oysters right in front of you and the service is really great! They also make sure you get the best oysters ( if they shuck it and it looks bad or Something they make sure to replace it), plus they shucked one extra for us! read more

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I eat here every time I'm in Columbia and it's divey, gritty, and utterly great. No pretense, no issues, just fresh shrimp, oysters, clams, crawfish, scallops, and more. Cold beer. Eat in back at the large bar like everyone else does. You won't regret it! read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Large, fresh oysters. Tasty as can be! - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Reminds me of home, simple oyster spot with awesome sauces and condiments. Shucked right there in front of you bar side. Cold beer and good company completes the trifecta. The service is professional and prompt, the ambiance is very nice, rustic. I'd recommend for those are serious about fresh oysters. read more

Friendly staff. Pubish, kinda hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bar vibe, but since it's downtown you wouldn't know it until you get inside. Really good raw oysters (that they shuck for you), crawfish (when they have them), and some of the best shrimp & grits you'll eat. Before you get all that, be sure and get the growder--a delicious blend of NE clam chowder & grits. I got it on a halfhearted challenge, but was rewarded for giving in to my curiosity. GO! read more

I chose to come here for dinner with my husband on our Anniversary because I had a serious craving for some oysters and my husband was craving some crab legs. We left this place feeling incredibly satisfied! We got there around 7:30 and sat down at the bar in the back. It's a different kind of dining experience if you've never been to an oyster bar before . The way it's laid out is somewhat of a "U" shaped bar, first come, first serve. They have long tubs surrounding the border of the inside of the bar for shucking shells. So when your order is ready, your server comes out and shucks your oysters for you right there. At first, I wasn't sure what to think because I felt like they kind of took the fun away from eating oysters, but then I just enjoyed the fact that I didnt have to put in the work! We started with the capital city oysters, then ordered a half peck of scallops (with Greek Cavendar's seasoning), followed by a couple oyster shots and ending our lovely meal with steamed oysters and crab legs. All of it was so delicious and so fresh. Oh and the cocktail sauce, let me tell you! Now I'm not usually a cocktail sauce kind of girl, but their housemade cocktail sauce was so good, I could've just taken a spoon to it like it was soup!! I ended up dipping everything in it. No lie. It was that good. I love how they offer a variety of different hot sauces, too. I never knew how good sriracha was on an oyster until I tried it. Now, it's my favorite. My husband doesn't like oysters, but he likes to give them a try every year. When I told him about the capital city oysters having alfredo sauce, bacon and cheddar, he was sold. He loved them! My top two favorite parts of our meal were the yummy scallops and oyster shot. read more

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Came on a tuesday night around 6pm with my bf and we had no problem getting seats. The restaurant is first come first serve, no reservations. It's a bar style with bar stools to sit. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder and gumbo, two dozen oysters, and a dozen scallops. They shuck the oysters in front of you and the oysters were a big size - being that it is only $16 for a dozen. Well worth! I found some pieces to have an aftertaste I didn't really like but my bf enjoyed them. I would recommend the clam chowder over the gumbo. I would also recommend getting lemon dressing over cajun since I found the cajun sauce overpowered the scallops. In all, it was a nice experience. Pretty affordable compared to other fancy oyster bars and I would come back again! read more

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Oh my goodness first bite of the Buffalo Shrimp and I was hooked the food is fantastic. The great part is the service is really amazing. Watching the guy shuck the oysters right in front of you on to your plate is next level ambiance! I really liked the Mother Shucker cocktail sauce. It would go really good in a Bloody Mary. Def if you are in downtown Columbia go check it out. read more

No frills, just really good seafood! I had the chowder and snow crab both were well seasoned and fresh. The service was quick friendly and attentive. The cocktail sauce is not to missed with an almost stew like consistency the horseradish steals the show and it's flavorful without being overwhelming. The melted butter is kept warm and ready next to the cocktail sauce in an old school coffee pot. Brave the walk way construction outside, you won't be disappointed in addition to the fresh seafood they offer a full bar. read more

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I was in Columbia for a meeting and had to stay downtown so I was able to walk to the restaurant. Parking looks to be an issue. The flow of locals was heavy which is a great sign. The restaurant is behind a more touristy looking one. This a true old school oyster bar. No big screen tv's or any fancy things. What this place lacks in the ambience it more than makes up for with the food and service. I had a half dozen raw oysters shucked right in front of me. Super fresh and very nice size and delicious. Wow they were amazing as I hadn't have any oysters since Covid. After that I had the Beaufort basket which is a low country boil that was also scrumptious. The seasoning was good but didn't numb my lips like it would in Louisiana. They have a great beer selection but nothing on tap. They had Abita Purple Haze so it was perfect. A great meal and the service was awesome. The beer was cold and so good. read more

In town for graduation and love finding "hole in the wall" places for oysters I can't always get back home. This place was in walking distance of my hotel and had good reviews here, so I was excited to try it out. The whole experience was fun and food was great -- You sit at a long bar top and after ordering, they shuck the oysters right in front of you. Crackers, horseradish, lemons (and a variety of other fixin's for the scallops) were readily available, and the freshness of the food is unmatched. I ended up ordering NE clam chowder (first time) and had two dozen raw oysters -- soo good! I will definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

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They lost a really good customer because I'm obsessed with seafood and I love oysters and crab legs. Those are my 2 favorites. But when I arrived, I felt like was a ghost. No greeter at the front to attend me. I didn't see a sign that says self seating. I didn't see a sign that said to wait for a waiter either but I literally stood there for a few minutes and looked at 3 employees and it was like I didn't even exist. I wondered if I entered through the wrong area but this was my first time here and i entered through the doors where it says oyster bar. Very disappointing, I was really looking forward to eating here. I even dressed accordingly. Was wearing all black with black shoes. Well all right I will find another location that has seafood. It's too bad the reviews about this place is what brought me here. read more

Well well well.... I must say first and foremost we are Oyster connoisseur and these by far are the largest we have ever had!!!!! And for the price!!!! Talking to the staff to find out more about the oysters and where they where from made me realize why they were ginormous and not over the top expensive!!!! They are "farm raised in Texas"...... Mmmmmmm.... Well this was our first experience-with someone saying that, didn't even know that happened?!? Didn't know how to take it so we pulled out of BF "goggle" and started researching.... They were very light in taste, didn't taste like the ocean or any flavor of the ocean... All in all.... I would go back and get them again if I lived closer! Would have loved to try more there like scallops, crab Etc. Not a fan of the hot cocktail sauce th read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Dozen of Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Service started out decent but by the end left much to be desired. We stopped in for a bite and a few afternoon beers after reading the laundry list of awesome reviews about the food. We had steamed shrimp, raw & streamed oysters, chowder, & a low country basket. All the food was good except the steamed shrimp which was the first time I ran access this preparation and hope it is the last. They were steamed out of the shell which made for a very strange consistency. Almost as if they were frozen and heated in a microwave. Yuck!!! The place has a great oyster house vibe concept but I was extremely disappointed that the server put a gratuity on our checks...it deeply offends me when service chooses to go this route. Judging your patrons tipping abilities might be the standard in Columbia because it is a college time and full of entitled frat boys living off mommy's dollar but I will never be back after that experience. I always take care of service employees but folks like this irritate me beyond belief. We all tip well but because we were not the "normal" old blue haired or frat-tastic crowd they felt like we were not going to take care of them...shame on y'all! read more

Great service. Oysters and crawfish were very good. Also had the Growder which was hot and tasty

I am back in Columbia and came back to this place because of how much I loved it last time. Nothing has changed! Oysters are still fresh, crab legs were still perfectly cooked- it's like I never left. OBC is by far my favorite place in Columbia. The staff is always friendly! I tried a couple new things on their menu. Growder- grits & clam chowder topped with bacon & cheese. Definitely a must if you're ever wondering what to order! It's basically just that- grits and clam chowder. Steamed scallops- they serve it to you in a bowl. I've only ever had them seared, but after having them steamed, I think I prefer them that way instead from now on! Tip* if you're getting crab legs, mix their hot butter with some Texas Pete hot sauce for dipping. read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Oysters & 1/2 off crab legs Tuesday!! - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

A really cool place to enjoy some seafood and oysters. The service is good and they shuck the oysters right in front of you. Definitely recommend. read more

If you're in Columbia and need an oyster fix, the Oyster Bar Columbia is definitely the place to go for it. I was stuck on the outskirts of Columbia trying to wait out Hurricane Irma and comply with a compulsory evacuation order out of my home in Florida. I confess Columbia isn't one of my fav cities, but going to the Oyster Bar Columbia is one way to make the best of it. Oyster Bar Columbia doesn't look like much from the outside and really isn't much on the inside either, but the oysters are what counts and the ones I had were great. I ordered a dozen raw and was rather surprised as a gentleman who was carrying them in a bucket came right over to me and began shucking them. You don't get front row service like this every day, and the oysters from a place in Texas he referenced as being the "Napa Valley of Oysters" were huge, but tender, tasty and overall delicious. I also had some "Capital City" which were steamed and then covered with a delicious garlic Alfredo sauce with cheese and bacon. read more

Oyster Bar Columbia - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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A great hole in the wall kind of place. Staff were very attentive and quick. Orders come out quick and their homemade cocktail sauce is really good. Oysters and other sides were very tasty and fresh. read more

The hospitality here is simply pathetic. Both men behind the bar were so rude for absolutely no reason. Thinking we "looked young" and served all the men with no questions, and NONE of the women. Would not even look at our ID. I recomend literally anywhere besides this place. This could have been handled in such a more respectful way . read more

I really didn't know what to expect walking into an oyster bar in Columbia, but I am so happy that I did! I live in Miami and have been craving Oysters for WEEKS. It doesn't make a ton of sense to try to appease that in Columbia, but I was on a mission. The restaurant is divided into two parts. In the back, there's a round bar where you can sit down to enjoy seafood, and upfront is a more normal restaurant/bar setup. I immediately grabbed a seat in back and was served warm cocktail sauce. I was there on a Tuesday when there was a crab claw special, but I was there for one thing - oysters! I ordered a half dozen for $9 (a full dozen was only $14). Within minutes, they brought out the oysters in a bucket and started shucking them right in front of me, placing them one by one on my ice tray. They were from Texas and HUGE. I guess everything really is bigger in Texas. This meant they were more filling too and I was certainly satisfied with my little snack. The menu is short but sweet. If you don't like raw oysters, they also have them steamed, as well as crabs, shrimp, clams, and a few other items like soup and loaded grits. I didn't go for anything else but would definitely try more next time! The drink menu isn't anything extensive. They did have some oysters shooters that looked fun, along with a standard selection of beer and wine that are on slight discount during happy hour. I would've liked to see more of a local brew selection, but they did have a couple from River Rat. It looks like there was another oyster bar right next door which I found interesting. No doubt I would definitely head here though next time I'm in Columbia! read more

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Very chill bar and oyster bar. Long wait for the oyster bar section, but it's the worth wait. Just hang out in the bar side until they call you. Plus the drinks are pretty cheap. And the oysters are pretty good too. Service good, people are cool and overall a great experience here. Would come back. read more

Hands down the best place for oysters in Columbia. Save your money, come here and skip Pearls. Introverts with anti-people personalities and stuck up people need not apply. This is the most fun, most laid back, the chillest place to get amazing deals on fresh seafood in Columbia. I love the Oyster Bar for about a million reasons. Let me tell you why: First -- Tuesday's are best. Great deals on crab legs that will leave you yummy in your tummy! Off the beaten path location. Easy to miss if you don't know what you are looking for but worth making sure you find it. Usually great parking options as long as you don't mind the short walk to the parking garages. Unassuming entrance, friendly hostess staff, and a full bar greet you. Even on the busiest evenings, they will try to get you seated as quickly as possible and have a laid back, customer oriented mentality to making sure you have a drink in hand while you wait for a space in the back. If they are packed, grab a beer, watch the game and hang out til they get you a spot in the back. It'll be worth it! The seating area is unique, to say the least, but I love it. I have never been to the Oyster Bar without meeting unique and interesting people and making lots of new friends. It's 100% unavoidable. Close nit seating on comfy stools just adds to the atmosphere. Watching the shuckers is like getting dinner and a show. It's entertaining and I love watching all the different orders come out. These guys are shucking pros and it's great to get such a hands-on experience, watching them work right in front of you. They have all the toppings and extras you could possibly want for your oysters(butter, all the hot sauces, vinegar, lemon, homemade cocktail sauce). I've had them here every kind of way. Steamed, fried and raw. Raw is best but it's a preference. They source their oysters from Texas so they are different than some of the more traditional NE sourced Oysters. Everything else on the menu is good. They serve large portions of high-quality seafood. Nothing fancy just pure goodness. No fancy chefs are in the back creating expensive dishes, just the basics. I prefer my seafood that way and I hope you will agree, if done right it's just better. read more

This is the best place for seafood in Columbia SC. The raw oysters are fresh and very large. Had the gumbo good spice and lots of seafood. Had the steame shrimp and scallops. Very fresh. I recommend this as the place to go for seafood. Very casual short tea shirt and flip flop kind of place. read more

We came here the other night, and loved it! Great atmosphere and excellent service. I'm not an oyster person, but my husband is. He loved the lightly steamed oysters. It's pretty cool having someone shuck them for you also. We both ordered the crab legs and they were delicious! They were cooked perfect and I could have eaten my weight in them. I can't wait to go back! read more

We came to The Oyster Bar after the Vista Lights event downtown. We were able to easily get a table around the bar in the back. The restaurant has sort of a dive bar, laid back ambiance. The staff are all dressed rather casually in random plain shorts and t-shirts. This is all fine by me, as long as the food is good, right? We ordered a dozen raw oysters, Capital City oysters, clam chowder, and gumbo. I'm not the biggest gumbo fan, but my girlfriend (who is from Louisiana, and can be very particular about her cajun/Lousiana cuisine) enjoyed it. We were also satisfied with the clam chowder. The staff will shuck all of your oysters right in front of you. The raw oysters were pretty meh, and could stand to be cleaned some more. But it was only $16/dozen, so there's that. Capital City oysters were also meh, with the cheese and bacon overpowering what little oyster remained in the shell. I'm pretty torn about The Oyster Bar. I'd like to give it a 3.5. Overall the experience was pleasant and the prices were fine, but when you have "oyster" in your restaurant name, I guess I expect more from the oyster dishes. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Columbia. We've been coming for 20 years and we took our daughter for her first visit last week. She loved it! If you love oysters without the frills, this is the BEST place in Columbia, and probably in SC (yes, better than Bowens). The oysters, drinks, and service are all awesome! read more